A court in Seoul has extended the detention of South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, following his failed attempt to impose martial law last month.
The decision, issued on Sunday, allows investigators to keep the 64-year-old in custody for up to 20 days due to concerns he may destroy evidence if released.
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Yoon was arrested on Wednesday after a prolonged standoff between investigators and his presidential security team. The warrant, issued at 03:00 local time (18:00 GMT Saturday), marks a critical turn in the political crisis engulfing South Korea, as Yoon faces charges of insurrection over the December 3 martial law order that plunged the country into chaos.
Supporters of Yoon reacted angrily to the court’s decision, storming the building, smashing windows and doors, and clashing with police. Dozens were arrested following the violence, which Acting President Choi Sang-mok condemned as “unimaginable in a democratic society.” He vowed to bolster security for future court proceedings.
Yoon, impeached by parliament and suspended from office, will only be officially removed if the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment. In the meantime, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has 20 days, including four already elapsed, to prepare charges against him.
Pro-Yoon demonstrators had rallied outside the courthouse ahead of the extension decision and have repeatedly attempted to block legal actions against the embattled leader. Similar clashes occurred during Yoon’s arrest attempts earlier this month, with his security team and supporters obstructing authorities from entering his compound.
Yoon’s lawyer, Yun Gap-geun, announced that the president would refuse to cooperate with questioning by the CIO. He also claimed Yoon was “shocked” by the violence in court and urged his supporters to express themselves peacefully.
The ongoing crisis stems from Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law, which he justified as a response to “anti-state forces” in parliament and the perceived threat from North Korea. Critics, however, see it as an overreach tied to his political struggles, including his party’s landslide loss in April’s elections and a scandal involving the First Lady.
Public opinion remains sharply divided, with thousands protesting against Yoon in recent weeks. The acting president, Choi Sang-mok, assumed office only after parliament impeached the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo, for allegedly obstructing Yoon’s impeachment.
As South Korea grapples with the aftermath of Yoon’s actions, the nation finds itself at a crossroads, navigating a political storm that has exposed deep divisions and raised questions about the resilience of its democratic institutions.
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